Identification device



April 5, 1932. c, 055 1,852,091

IDENTIFICATION DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1930 15 visible portion bepartially Patented Apr. 5, 1932 eum-ran: smras l r'arsnr" QWECE HUZGH-o. BOSS, or mornnmorrranssrenon T0 HARRY w. rnnconnza, or TOLEDQOIIIIOrnnnrrrrcnrron DEVICE Application'filed February 14, 1930. Serial No.428,303.

This invention relates to identification devices such as fordis-playingthe factory number of an automobile, and an'object is toprovide a simple and efficient device/for at- 5 tachment to a vehicle,or elsewhere, which readilydisplays-a number, legend or ldentlfyingsymbol, but has further and normally invisible means for identificationso that should the visible portion be defaced, dam- IQ aged orremoved,the normally invisible and difiiculty accessible identifying meansremains, affording means for identification, thereby insuringaccesstosome means for identifying the structure shouldthe mam or entirelyremoved.

A. further object is to provide a device of this character which can becommercially produced at a reasonable cost, and a simple as andimprovedmethod for-accomplishing this.

For purposes of illustration, and not of limitation, the invention isshown on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.1 isa plan view: of the plate members '25 before being bent orfolded into the proper position;

Fig. 2 is a rear View in perspective of the plates after being foldedinto position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the front so of the plate members afterbeing bent into position for use;

Fig. 4 is a face view of the completed structure;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view onthe line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises plate members 1and 2, which, as shown in Fig. 4, may be stamped in one operation fromrelatively light gage sheet metal.

Before these plates are formed suitable identifying indicia is formedthereon. The method of carrying this out forms no part of the presentinvention, and may be ac'complished in a number of ways. In case thedevice is to be used on an automobile to display the factory number ofthe individual car, the number may be embossed, or otherwise formed oneach plate. On theplate 1 the letters and numbers are larger than on thesmaller plate.2, butthe same legend, number or symbol for identificationpurposes appears on both plates. In addition, the name of the automobilemay also appear'on the main plate 1. As indicated, the name H. W.Falconer may appear over the factory symbol, this being illustrative ofone method of displaying the name of the car in connection with thefactorynumber.

' Asshown, the plate 1 is considerably larger than the-plate 2, thelatter being connected to the main plate by two relatively narrow strips3. The dotted lines-4e in Fig. 1 indicate the line on which the plate isbent to'provide side flaps-5. Integral with the flaps 5 are a number oftabs 6 which hold the device in the proper position within the die, aswill hereinafter appear. In addition tofoldingthe flaps 5 atsubstantially right angles to the plate 1,

as indicated in Fig. 2, the strips 3 are folded at substantially rightangles to the plate 1, and the plate 2 is bent or folded atsubstantially right angles to the strips 3 in parallel relationship tothe main plate 1. 'When in this position it is apparent that theidentifye ing' indicia appears on the front and on the rear of thestructure, so that from either side thatthe device is viewed the factorynumber, as in: the case of an automobile, may be observed- After theplates have been fold-ed to the position indicated in Fig. 2 they areplaced within a suitable die in such a manner that the face of the plate1 engages one wall. of the die, and the face of the plate 2 engages theopposite wall of the mold. A tab2 connected to the plate 2 may be bentto engage the main plate 1 for holding the plates in predeterminedspaced relation within the mold. Thereafter, by a well known castingoperation, a substance is forced into the mold completely to fill thespace between the-plates l and 2, and to provide astructure ofsubstantially uniform thickness throughout its length, asindicated inFig. 6. The substance 7 not only covers the space between the plates,but also the ends, andoverlies both. the side edges of the. plates. Thesubstance 7 thus forms the body of the device, and is adhesivelyconnected to each plate member, covering the connecting strips 3 in themanner shown. It will be understood that the tabs 6 serve to hold themain plate 1 in the desired position within the die. It will further beunderstood that although metal is desirable as the castable substance tobe used in this operation, other materials, such as bakelite, may beused in substitution. Metal is preferable,- however, in that it providesa tougher and more resistant barrier to'unwarranted defacement, ordamage to'the device. V

As completed, a unitary structure is provided consisting essentially ofthree layers, the main plate, the body of castable material, and therear tab or supplementary plate. If

the front or face plate is damaged, as by a thief, the rear plate 2remains intact containing the number of the automobile. It is intendedthat the device be ri idly secured to some part of the automobilestructure, rendering it impossible, as a practical matter, to removewithout damaging the device to such an extent that tampering willreadily be noticed. One means for. attaching the device to an automobileis shown and described in United identifying indicia on the outer sicesthereof and a casting of opaque material filling'the space between theplates, the edges of said plates being, embedded in the casting.

2. An identification device comprising two substantially parallel platesprovided with identifying indicia on the outer sides thereof andacasting of opaque material filling the space between the plates, theedges of said plates being provided with integral anchoring tabs whichare embedded in the casting. 3; An identification device comprising asingle stamping in the form of two substantially parallel plates with aweb integrally connecting them, identifying indicia on the outer side ofeach plate and a casting of opaque material filling the space betweenthe plates, the edges of said plates being embedded in the casting.

4. An identification device comprising a single stamping in the form oftwo substantially parallel plates integrally connected to each other andprovided with identifying indicia on the outer sides thereof, and acasting of opaque material filling the space between the plates, theedges of said plates being 1 provided with integral anchoring tabs whichmaterial filling the space betweenthe plates, theedges'of said platesbeing embedded inv the casting.

6. An ldentificatlon device comprising two substantially parallel platesprovided with identifying indicia on the outersides thereof, and acasting of opaque material filling the space between the p lates,theedges of said plates being provided with integral anchoring tabs, saidcasting covering the tabs and the adjacent edges of the plates but notthe faces thereof. v V

.1 An identification device comprising a single stamping inthe form oftwo substantially parallel plates with a web integrally connecting them,said plateson the outer sides thereof bearing like indicia facing'inopposite directions, and a castingof opaque material filling the spacebetweenthe plates, said casting covering the edges of the plates but notthe faces thereof.

SPAR identification device comprising a sin le stamping" in the form oftwo substant ally parallel plates wlth a web integrally connectlng them,said plates on the outer sides thereof bearing like indicia facing inopposite directions, and a casting of opaque'material filling the spacebetweenthe plates, the edges of said plates beingprovided with in tegralanchoring tabs, said. casting covering the tabs and adjacent edges ofthe platesbut not the faces thereof. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification;

HUGH: 0. Ross.

